Rolex Milgauss 116400
Milgauss → 116400
Rolex brought the Milgauss back in 2007 as reference 116400, after the 1019 left the catalogue in 1988. The 40 mm case kept the smooth bezel and internal magnetic shield, while the orange lightning-bolt seconds hand recalled the 6541. The range included clear-crystal black- and white-dial watches and the green-crystal 116400GV. Rolex added the blue-dial GV in 2014. The Milgauss line ended in 2023.
Core facts
| detail | value |
|---|---|
| reference | 116400 / 116400GV |
| production | 2007–2023 |
| movement | Rolex caliber 3131; automatic, time-only, COSC-certified |
| case | 40 mm Oystersteel; internal magnetic shield |
| magnetic resistance | Up to 1,000 gauss |
| water resistance | 100 m / 330 ft |
| crystal | Clear sapphire (116400); green sapphire (116400GV) |
| bezel | Smooth, fixed |
| crown | Twinlock screw-down |
| bracelet | Oyster bracelet with Oysterclasp and Easylink extension |
Where it sits in the line
The 116400 followed the 1019 after a gap of about nineteen years. Its larger case and more conspicuous dial details updated the Milgauss, while the magnetic shield preserved the line’s defining construction. Rolex discontinued the 116400 series in 2023; the 2023 releases included no replacement.
Production outline
Launch in 2007
Rolex introduced three versions at Baselworld in 2007: a white dial with clear sapphire, a black dial with clear sapphire, and the black-dial 116400GV with green sapphire. Rolex associated the GV with the Milgauss’s 50th anniversary. Its later brochure describes the green sapphire as “a first in watchmaking,” but does not give production totals.
Dial and crystal changes
The 116400-0001 paired a black dial with clear sapphire; the 116400-0002 used a white dial and clear sapphire. Both had the orange lightning-bolt seconds hand. The GV added green-tinted sapphire over a black dial. Collectors commonly call this version “Z-Black,” though Rolex’s product material uses 116400GV.
Rolex introduced the 116400GV-0002, known as Z-Blue, in 2014. Its blue dial is viewed through the same green crystal. Published accounts place the end of the clear-crystal black version around 2013–2014; Phillips dates the end of both non-GV versions to 2016. Those accounts do not establish the exact last-production year of the black dial. The white-dial version was gone by 2016. Both GV dials remained until the line’s 2023 discontinuation.
The image gallery below shows the Z-Blue dial and a second GV dial view. Dial colors can look different under the green crystal and changing light; color descriptions alone do not identify a service or replacement dial.
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Z-Blue dial beneath green sapphire -
116400GV dial and Glace Verte crystal -
116400GV Z-Blue
Movement
Caliber 3131 is an automatic, time-only movement with a date-free dial. Rolex’s brochure lists a Parachrom hairspring, bidirectional winding, stop-seconds, about 48 hours of power reserve, and a Superlative Chronometer specification of −2/+2 seconds per day after casing. It also describes the movement as protected by an internal magnetic shield. Monochrome reports 31 jewels and a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour.
Case and bracelet
The Oyster case measures 40 mm and is made from Rolex Oystersteel, an alloy in the 904L family. The green-crystal GV and clear-crystal versions share the same case dimensions, smooth bezel, Twinlock crown, and 100 m water-resistance rating. Rolex describes the shield as ferromagnetic alloys surrounding the movement; the shield carries a “B” with an arrow, the symbol for magnetic flux density.
Rolex specifies an Oyster bracelet with flat three-piece links, an Oysterclasp, and a 5 mm Easylink comfort extension. Contemporary parts references identify bracelet 72400 for the 116400. Bracelet parts can be replaced during service, so a bracelet number alone does not establish original delivery on an individual watch.
Dating notes
The reference was sold during Rolex’s transition from letter-prefix serial numbers to random serials. A serial can help place a watch within a broad period, but the 116400’s full catalogue span is sixteen years and serial ranges overlap production and delivery dates. Use the serial-number guide for the limits of serial dating; a serial alone does not establish the year a watch was made or first sold.
Related references
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116400GV Z-Blue, full watch -
116400GV Z-Blue
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Z-Blue dial detail
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GV dial detail
Sources
- Rolex, Milgauss brochure for reference 116400GV-0002 — case, crystal, crown, movement, accuracy, magnetic shield, and bracelet specifications.
- Monochrome Watches, “The Complete History of the Rolex Milgauss” — reference chronology, dial variants, and movement specifications.
- Phillips, “What’s the Legacy of the Rolex Milgauss?” — 116400 launch variants, Z-Blue introduction, and discontinuation chronology.
- Hodinkee, “The Rolex Milgauss Is Now Discontinued” — 2023 discontinuation.
- Rolex USA price list, 2011 — reference 116400 and bracelet 72400.